Well, Game 1 of the St. Blues' playoff series is tonight. I can't wait to go home, eat some home made burgers, and cheer on my Blues. I've loved hockey, and the Blues, since I was a kid and I've waited what seems like a long time for a team like this to come around. These Blues are contenders this year and have all the pieces to compete for years to come.
First off, this season was unlike any other I've experienced as an adult. See as a kid I remember going to the "Kiel" and routing on my favorites like Hull and McInnis and I was a fanatic. After the lock out season, my fandom really died down. I just had to know EVERYTHING about hockey, and when the lockout happened and seemingly every player moved and rules changed, I tuned out. I still paid attention but I wasn't obsessed with it. Until two seasons ago. I bought a NHL game for the first time in year and used it to study all the new names and rules I'd missed, and I fully credit that game with relighting my fire. It was that young, hungry Blues team that I fell back in love with.
So to see the Blues mature and fight to get were they are this season, against all odds was magic. This was the first time I can remember going to a signifigant amount of games and not seeing a single loss. I also got to introduce my girlfriend to my love of hockey this year and she has taken to it well, haha.
So I go into the playoffs with high hopes, but history tells me to have low expectations. The Blues are, as Sadie discribed them this weekend, quickly becoming the Cubs of hockey. We always look like a contender, only to come up short. I hope this is the season we get rid of that, but Im keeping my expectations low.
All I expect of them is to win this first round. They are at home, were they have dominated. They are playing a team that they beat 4-0 in the season series and who are an aging, shell of their former selfs. This is winnable and anything less will leave me with a sour taste in my mouth. I think they can and will do it. Beyond that, its all hope and wishes. Who knows who they could play. There are some seriously tough teams in the west this season. I believe that if the Blues can win this series and carry some confidence to the next round though, anything can happen.
Beyond the Blues, I've got some other teams I've got my eye on. I've got a lot of teams I dig in the Eastern side of the tourney. I love what the Panthers did this off season and that they've made it in. Them, along with the Senators, would be a great underdog story. Mike Rupp's pro wrestling heel-like disrespect during the Winter Classic would soften a Rangers cup win too. The West on the other hand, I hate almost every team. I've thought about a series of blogs detailing why I have a seemlingly unrationable hatred of certain sports teams/figures, so I'll keep it short, but I can't fucking stand San Jose or LA. Detroit, while I respect what they do year in and year out, can fuck up a rope. Fuck those Canuks. Chicago I think of as more of a fun rivalry, but I sure don't want them to win AGAIN before St. Louis gets one. Phenoix I litterally forget exists these days, maybe they have that as an advtadge. The only team I would accept beating my Blues, is Nashville. I predicted long ago Nashville will be trouble in the playoffs and I respect them. Their goaltending is top notch and they really went all in at the deadline to add quality players.
Finally, some predictions...
East...
Rangers d. Senators
Bruins d. Capitals
Devils d. Panthers
Penguins d. Flyers
West…
Kings d. Canucks (Yep, LA is going to be a tough 8 to beat, mark my words)
Blues d. Sharks
Predators d. Red Wings
Blackhawks d. Coyotes
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